Page 14 of The Love Wager

“Honestly, that part of the night is hazy. Was it something important?”

I pause because, duh, twenty thousand dollars for a bet is really fucking important to me. But I’m worried if I bring it up, she’ll think I’m lying and trying to get more money out of the game. This situation feels like all the other times she’s offered money for the business, and I’ve backed away. I don’t like it. Since she doesn’t remember, I’ll leave it and take the ten thousand. That’s more than enough to invest in marketing to get the company's name out there.

“Jesus, you look so stressed right now. I’m just fucking with you. Of course, I remember what I said. And I know the perfect person for the challenge.”

“God, I hate you. You’re such a bitch sometimes.” I laugh, the weight lifting from my shoulders. “Actually, I know you said I couldn’t pick, but I was thinking, what about Nick?”

“That’s not a good idea,” she answers immediately. “Plus, I already have someone picked out for you. And here he comes, walking down the street. Ready? One, two, three, look!” she announces excitedly.

When I turn my head toward the window, my brain ignores the giant bane of my existence. I look around his shadowing body to see who Taylor means. Then it dawns on me, and I drop my head back, taking in his annoying stubbled jaw.

“Absolutely not, Tay. Why would you do that to me?!”

“For one, it wouldn’t be worth the money if it was a walk in the park for you. And two, you don’t even know him, Indie. So, you guys got off on the wrong foot. I think if you gave him a chance, you’d realize you both have a lot in common.”

I scoff, wondering if my best friend knows me at all. “There’s no way. You’re giving me an impossible task.”

“With that attitude, you won’t,” she pauses, searching my face, “come on, for me? Please?”

I watch the man in question walk past the windows to the front door. The small bell above the door chimes with his arrival. He doesn’t catch my eyes scrutinizing everything about him. From the backward baseball cap keeping his dark hair contained to that thick layer of stubble across his hard jaw. The sherpa-lined jacket that was all the craze a few years ago hugs tight to his broad shoulders, and when he steps up to the front counter, I catch another glimpse of his sculpted ass in those jeans.

Objectively, the man is hot. Then he opens his mouth, and all those little details wash away, and the requited animosity returns.

I’m going to regret this. “Fine,” I finally add, startling Taylor from her people-watching. “I agree with your terms. I willtryto get to know him. But you’re going to have to run interference because there’s no way in hell he’s giving me the time of day after last night.”

Taylor squeals with delight, shimmying her shoulders. “Don’t worry. That won’t be a problem! He’ll be at all the stuff for the wedding. You guys will have plenty of time to mend bridges and get over your stupid issues.”

I can’t believe I’m doing this. But twenty thousand dollars? That’s my new motto. Whenever this thing goes sideways, and that’s bound to happen when we can’t help but rip each other’s heads off any time we speak, I’ll recite my motto.

I glance back over to the counter, where he’s taking a to-go cup of coffee and a small pastry bag from our waitress. When he turns to leave, our eyes lock. I might as well set the groundwork for the rest of the week. I give him a small smile and an awkward wave. His brows crinkle in confusion, and he shoots me back a glare instead of returning the nicety.

Well, fuck.

Taylor laughs at the exchange, turning back to me at the table after he leaves out of the front door. “You’ve got your work cut out for you.”

“And whose fault is that?” I snipe back.

“Well, now that we have that settled. Let’s talk about me and the wedding.”

Her excitement quells my frustration from the brush-off from Brooks. She’s right; I do have my work cut out for me. But I know I can turn this around. Maybe he was having an off night. There’s no way that Spencer would keep a friend with such a grizzly demeanor. That alone settles my worries. I sit back and listen to the blushing bride go over more wedding details until an alarm on her phone goes off.

“Dress fitting time!”

SIX

Brooks

“Hey! Isn’t that Indie?” Nick says, nodding out the front window with coffee in hand.

Rolling my eyes, I wander over toward the window. “Yup, that’s her.”

I turn to walk back behind the bar, and Nick catches my arm.

“What was that?”

“What was, what?”

“That sneer. Oh! She’s gotten under your skin, hasn’t she?” He grins, and I scoff, shrugging off his hold to escape.

---